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Teacher shortages are real, but not for the reason you heard

Rochester City School District prospective teacher applicants apply during a recruitment event at the Mercantile On Main, in Rochester, NY, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Everywhere, it seems, the return to school has been shadowed by worries of a teacher shortage. The U.S. education secretary has called for investment to keep teachers from quitting. A teachers union leader has described it as a five-alarm crisis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson) A Rochester City School District sign, right, announcing a recruitment event is posted outside the Mercantile On Main, in Rochester, NY, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Everywhere, it seems, the return to school has been shadowed by worries of a teacher shortage. The U.S. education secretary has called for investment to keep teachers from quitting. A teachers union leader has described it as a five-alarm crisis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson) Timothy Allison, a collaborative special education teacher in Birmingham, Ala., talks to students at Sun Valley Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. The Birmingham school system is struggling to fill around 50 teaching spots, including 15 in special education, despite $10,000 signing bonuses for special education teachers. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves) Timothy Allison, a collaborative special education teacher in Birmingham, Ala., leads a class at Sun Valley Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. The Birmingham school system is struggling to fill around 50 teaching spots, including 15 in special education, despite $10,000 signing bonuses for special education teachers. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves) Carmen Cruz, of Greece, N.Y., foreground, a Rochester City School District teacher applicant, applies with others during a recruitment event at the Mercantile On Main, in Rochester, NY, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. She's been a substitute teacher and was hoping her bilingual background would help her get a permanent teaching position. (AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson) Rochester City School District teacher applicants apply during a recruitment event at the Mercantile On Main, in Rochester, NY, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Everywhere, it seems, the return to school has been shadowed by worries of a teacher shortage. The U.S. education secretary has called for investment to keep teachers from quitting. A teachers union leader has described it as a five-alarm crisis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson) Timothy Allison, a collaborative special education teacher in Birmingham, Ala., works with a student at Sun Valley Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. The school district is struggling to fill around 50 teaching spots, including 15 in special education, despite $10,000 signing bonuses for special education teachers. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves) Timothy Allison, a collaborative special education teacher in Birmingham, Ala., teaches a class at Sun Valley Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. The school district is struggling to fill around 50 teaching spots, including 15 in special education, despite $10,000 signing bonuses for special education teachers. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)